Brush Creek Mill set to host annual AppleFest

October 3, 2012

HILLMAN - The Brush Creek Mill will be hosting its seventh annual AppleFest and Antique Show on Saturday, where antique dealers throughout Michigan, and craft vendors will gather with residents and out of town vacationers to blissfully celebrate the first weekend in October.

According to mill Coordinator Edith Lennox, this year's Applefest will highlight homemade apple dumplings served hot with caramel sauce, ice cream, and frozen dumplings. However, she said anyone interested in the frozen apple dumplings should pre-order or arrive early to the event, because they sell out fast.

"Our volunteers make approximately 600 fresh baked apple dumplings the morning of the event. They deliver them here nice and hot with warm caramel sauce and ice cream. It's one of our crowd favorites," she said. "We'll also have spice coffee and are hoping to serve warm cider, if we can get it."

Lennox said the mill usually receives donated apples for the event, but due to the lack of apples this season the mill was required to purchase them.

"We made sure we were buying Michigan apples. All of the apples in our apple dumplings are from the Traverse City area because our local farmers lost a lot of their apple crops," she said.

The mill will serve the apple dumplings from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and also will have frozen dumplings with cooking directions for sale.

"This is one of our best events. We always get a good crowd," Lennox said.

Applefest also is paired with an antique show. The variety of antique dealers is one of the main events, as well as craft booths, raffles, and prize drawings. Pumpkins, squash, dried corn stalks, hot chocolate, and jams and jellies will be sold throughout the one-day mill event. A concession stand will be available through Lickety Splits.

The festival will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information call the mill at 742-2527.